How often does computed tomography change the management of acute appendicitis?

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) diagnoses appendicitis accurately, but few studies evaluate how often CT changes the management of appendicitis. Consultations for appendicitis were evaluated by surgeons and assigned to groups: high, indeterminate, and low suspicion. After assignment, CT was reviewed if completed or ordered if desired by the surgeon and changes in plans were noted. One hundred patients were evaluated for appendicitis, 70 received appendectomy. Our negative appendectomy rate was 4 of 70 (5.7%). In the high suspicion group, 63 patients had 23 CT scans performed and 2 CT scans were negative, avoiding unnecessary operation and changing management in 2 of 63 (3.2%). The intermediate suspicion group included 27 patients and 26 CT scans performed; 11 were positive resulting in nine positive appendectomies and changing management in 9 of 27 (33%). The low suspicion group had 7 CT scans performed; two were positive leading to two positive appendectomies and changing management in 2 of 10 (20%). CT promoted 10 of 100 patients to the interval appendectomy pathway with no failures in delayed operative management. CT rarely changes management in patients highly suspicious for appendicitis, but may have a role in selecting patients for interval appendectomy. CT frequently changes management if the clinical diagnosis is indeterminate.